Propeller.



G. E. J. DE VALLAT. PROPBLLEB@ APPLIUATION P ILBD MAR.15,1912.

CHARLES EMILE JULES DE VALLAT, F PARIS, FRANCE.

PROPELLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1912.

Application led March 15, 1912. Serial No. 683,922.

f two fixed parts, viz., an inlet distributer and an outlet diffuser. The purpose of the inlet distributer is to give the desired direction to the Huid streams impinging on 4the rotating part. In the example subsequently described this direction is parallel to the axis of rotation.

The outlet diffuser has for its object, as will be seen hereinafter, to make the outow of the fiuid as far as possible parallel to the axis of rotation, which itself lies in the direction of the propulsion. In this manner there is preserved an additional axial effort, forming. partof the useful effort, derived from'a residualV rotational movement which we attempt to eliminate, or from the divergence of the fluid streams around the axis after issue from 'the propeller, which divergence we attempt to diminish or do away with entirely.

The movable part imparts to the fluid a' movement of rotation owing to which centri fugal Vforce tends to urge the Huid toward the circumference, and owing to the structure ofthe propeller, to cause it to How oppositely to tthe direction of propulsion. There is thus produced more or less of a vacuum or pressure ldiminution effective in the direction-of propulsion, and moreover, theblades of the rotating part act on the fluid in the manner of the blades of a screviT propeller. v

To render the working of the improved propeller clear, in the present example, the rotary part will be assumed as consisting of two series of surfaces: blades arranged around the axis more or less radially and sleeves or surfaces of revolution concentric to the axis, adapted to guide the fiuid and utilize the vacuum which has been created. The part between two consecutiy'e sleeves will be referred to as the f annulus, and to simplify the description and drawings. in the example selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be assumed that there is only one annulus. In this annulus there are three zones, an inlet zone a central zone and an outlet zone. In the central zone are the blades formed substantially of radial planes, whiclrmay thicken from inside to outside or from front to back. In this zone the absolute motion of the fluid is the resultant of its rotational movement of entrainment and its relative movement which takes place in a radial plane. In the inlet zone the blades are suitably inclined in the direction yof rotation, so as to transmit to the fiuid entering parallel tothe axis, the rotational motion of the propeller. In the central zone the motion of the fluid acquires a radial component without important alteration of tlieaxial component. In the outlet zone the blades are curved backward if it is desired to preserve all vor part of the power taken up in imparting rotation to the Huid/or if a component is desired tangential to the velocity of the fiuid. .This division of the movable part into three Zones may in certain cases, render the elimination of the inlet dist-ributer and outlet diffuser permissible. On the same principle, the presence of the distributer and diffuser may allow the elimination of the central zone and outlet zone in the moving part. In the outlet diffuser the residual rotational motion of the fluid may be converted into an additional axial effort, and the radial component of the velocity then more or less diminished for the same purpose, according to the requirements. In the example illustrated in the drawings these two kinds of surfaces of the moving part, the three zones of this part, and the two zones of the outlet diffuser, are considered distinct. An inlet distributer with several Zones could' also be constructed In practice however these Zones more or less merge into one another and itis'not indispensable that in the central part the blades should be radial planes. They may be curved and inclined to the axis.

In the drawings, Figure l is a section through the axis of the rotating' part, distributer and diffuser. Fig. 2 is a side 'elevation of a single blade of the moving part, the outer sleeve and theA rounding this sleeve being assumed removed.

A denotes the driving shaft; B the inlet distributor; C the annulus, in which Z1 fixed parts suring an annular space containing the blades the' inlet zone, Z2 the central zone, and Z3 and an outlet zone in which the the outlet zone. y

D is the outlet diuser divided into two and D2' i I E notesthe connections between the inlet istributer and the outlet diuser, K the fixed surface opposite the annulus, L the frame of the propelled body and S the external surface of the same behind the propeller.

In Fig. 2, the line 1 shows the apparent contour (meridian) of the inner face of the outer sleeve and the line 2 the apparent contour of the outer face of the inner sleeve. 3 is the line of insertion of the blades on the outer sleeve and 4 the line of insertion of the blade on the inner sleeve. 5 indicates portions of the curved sides of the blade.`

'The propeller yis shown situated in front of the body to be' translated, which thus does not oppose its own resistance to Jforward motion.

It is of: advantage, in the case of work-v in in air, to heat the propeller by means of the exhaust gases from the engine or otherwise, to prevent the formation of ice on the propeller and to give the engine certain advantages.

For facility of construction each annulus may be split up into its two or three zones, which can be cast separately and `attached to each other. Therernaining construction olers no dilliculties and the arrangements are vcapable of infinite variation. For example, annular bearings, thrust bearings, screw adjustments of clearances, etc, may be embodied in the construction as required.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v 1. In a propeller,

rotation,

rection ofrotation, the walls of the annulus having a curvature adapted to guide the fluid oppositely to the direction of propulsion.

2. In a propeller, a rotating member havingan annular space containing the blades and traversed by the. fluid in which the propeller works, said space comprising an inlet zone in which 'the blades are inclined in the direction o-f'rot'ation and the walls of the annulus having a curvature adapted to guide the iuid oppositely to the direction of propulsion; a fixed -inlet distributer in front of the rotating member and adapted to give the desired direction to the fluid streams impinging on this latter; and an outlet diiuser arranged behind the rotating member and adapted to guide the/fluid discharged therefrom in a direction parallel to that ofthe propulsion.

ing an annular' space 'containing the blades and traversed by the fluid in which thepro peller works, said space com rising three zones, an inlet zone in which the lades are inclined in the direction of rotation, a middle -zone in which the blades are substantially at right angles to the direction of rotation, and an outlet zone in which the blades are curved backward from the direction of rotation, the-walls of the `annulus having a curvature adapted to guide the fluid oppositely to the direction of propulsion, a fixed inlet distributer in front of the rotating member and adapted to give the desired direction to the fluid streams impinging on -this latter; and an outlet diliuser arranged behind-the rotating member and adapted to guide the fluid discharged therefrom in -a a rotating member hav-1 direction parallelto that of the propulsion.

and traversed by the fluid in whichthe pro-I peller works, said space `comprisin three an inlet zone in which the bla es are inclined in the direction of rotation,a middle zone in which the blades are substantiallyy at right-angles to the direction ot' specification in' the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' CHARLES EMILE JULES DE VALLA'I. Witnesses:

EMILE Liannn'r,"l

LUGIEN MEMMiNenR.

M obtained forg-ve' cents. each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Copies of this patent may be blades are curved backward from the di? In testimony whereof I have signed this 3. In a propeller, a rotating member hav- 

